Blanking and punching apparatus



G. F. WALES BIJIANKING AND PUNCHING APPARATUS Dec. 5, 1944.

Filed Aug. 15, 1943 2 Sheets- Sheet l ATTORNEYS Dec; 5, 1944. G. F: WALES 2,

BLANKING AND PUNCHINQ APPARATUS Filed Aug. .15, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 OIIIIIIIAVIIIIIIIIII ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 5, 1944 BLANKING AND FUNCHI NG APPARATUS George F. Wales, Kenmore, N. Y.

Application August 1 3, 1943, Serial No. 498,453

36 Claims. (Cl. 164-13) This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for blanking and piercing work, such as metal sheets, in a press.

One of the objects of this invention is to apply I to a blanking and piercing apparatus, improved piercing and stripping units by means of which the work may be blanked and perforated by means of the same apparatus.

It is afurther objectto provide an improved mounting means for the blankin punch and the cooperating die which makes possible'the use 'of the improved punch and stripping units.

It is a further object to provide improved stripping units which are simple in construction, easy to assemble in the mounting means and convenient to change or replace.

It is a further object to provide 'a stripping element of this nature to which a work locating pilot pin may be added as desired.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved method and apparatusfor facilitating the quick and accurate mounting of blanking diesonadieset.

It is also an object of this invention to provide apparatus of this kind with means of improved construction for stripping the work from the blanking punch and die.

A further object of this invention is to provide a blanking punch which also serves as a die for perforating the work which is being blanked out.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will appear from the following description and claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a die set having apparatus embodying this invention applied thereto, parts of the apparatus being shown partly in section.

die shoe and punch holder will'move relatively to each other with a high degree of accuracy when the die shoe is attached to the bed of a press and the punch holder is attached to the ram of a press. Die sets are commonly used in the metal working industry and the die set shown in the drawings is illustrated merely by way of example, since any suitable or desired type of die set may be employed in connection with my apparatus.

i 6 represents a blanking punch and it a blanking die formed to cooperate with the punch Hi. The blanking punch may be made of a sheet or plate of steel having its edge portions accurately formed to cooperate with the cavity or hollow interior W of the die which may also be made of a steel plate or sheet, and as shownin Fig. 1, when the punch it descends upon ,a work sheet or plate 2!], a portion 2! of the work is blanked out.

Blanking dies of many difierent" kinds are usually required in every stamping shop for pro- I ducing different shapes and kinds of blanks, and are used from time to time to produce different Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view thereof,

on line 22, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation on an enlarged scale, on line 33, Fig. 1.

4 s a fr m ry sectional elevation thereof, on line 4-4, Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of a lots of work. I have provided improved means whereby such blanking dies may be easily and accurately mounted in a die set. For this purpose, I provide a pair of mounting plates 24 and 25 on which the blanking punch and. blanking die may be. mounted and which in turn may be mounted on the die set, which may be left in the press while the dies are changed. The punch in the particular construction shown may be secured to the upper mounting plate 25 by means of a plurality of bolts or screws 26 and the die is suitably mounted to the lower mounting plate 24 by means of screws 21. The plates are then in turn mounted on the die shoe and punch holder of the die set. v

In order to mount the plates on the die set, I preferably provide accurately formed holes in the punch and die plates into which bushings 29 may be pressed, if desired, as shown in detail in Fig. 5 in connection with the punch and die plates and 83. These holes or bushings are formed to receive accurately formed locating pins, and when properly located, the punch and die plates are secured to the die set. I have shown in the accompanying drawings combined locating pins and securing devices, which are in the form of bolts having accurately finished cylindrical shank or body portions 33 which locate the plates on the die set, and screw-threaded end portions 35 of reduced diameters, which secure the plates to the die set. The die shoe and punch holder of the die set has holes formed therein to receive the --edges of the punches and dies.

bolts. These holes include portions 36 of larger then the bolts can be relied upon to position the mounting plates correctly in relation to the die set, even if the threads cannot be formed with much accuracy.

The blanking punch and die may be accurately mounted on the mounting plates in any usual or suitable manner while the plates are held in correct relation to each other by means of bolts or pins passed into the holes in the bushings 29 of both plates. The punches and dies may, for example, be secured in correct relation to each other on the mounting plates by welding, by means of bolts 31, Fig.5, and the usual dowel pins (not shown), or in any other manner.

By means of the construction described, a pair of mounting plates having a blanking punch and a blanking die secured thereto can be easily and quickly secured in place on a die set by merely bolting the mounting plates in the preformed holes in the die set by means of bolts 40, as shown in Fig. 1, which bolts may be similar in construction to the bolts shown in Fig. 5, except that they are shorter, since the mounting plates in Fig. l are secured directly against the die shoe l0 and the punch holder ll of the die set.

By means of the described mounting in a die set, the blanking punches and dies will be separated to a greater extent-when the ram of the press to which the punch holder H is secured is in its upper position, thus greatly facilitating the positioning of the work between the punches and dies. When thedesired number of blanks 2| have been cut from the sheet or plate 20,

- the mounting plates and parts mounted thereon can be removed from the die set by merely removing the bolts and can then be replaced by another pair of mounting plates having other punches and dies mounted thereon and the mounting plates may be stored in a compact space and when again required for use, they can be quickly and easily mounted on the die. set.

The mounting plates are also provided with means for stripping the work from the punch and die and I have shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5 stripper units of improved construction which are pressed in suitable apertures 43 formed in the mounting plates adjacent to' the cutting Each of these stripper units includes a cylindrical shell 44 which is of such diameter that the shell may be pressed into any of the apertures 43 formed in the mounting plates. These sleeves 44 preferably have inwardly extending parts or flanges at their opposite ends, which may, for example,- be formed by turning or fianging the opposite ends inwardly to form flanges 45 and 46, Fig. 5. A stripper plunger has a portion 41 slidably arranged within the shell 44 adjacent to one end thereof and has a part 46 of reduced diameter extending outwardly beyond the shell for engagement with the work. The flange 46 thus engages the enlarged part 41 of the plunger to limit the movement of, the same out of the shell. The shell also encloses a stripper spring 49, which reacts against the stripper plunger and the opposite flange 45 of the shell, and if desired, a spacing block or bushing 50 may be arranged between the spring and the flange 45 of the shell, such spacing blocks being particularly desirable if the mounting plates are arranged in spaced relation to the punch holder 'and die shoe of the die set, as shown in Fig. 5, so that the stripper shall may bear at one end on either the punch holder or die shoe. In Fig. 5, the shell 44 of the stripper member is shown bearing against the die shoe Hi. When the mounting plates are secured in direct contact with the punch holder and die shoe, the stripper units as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 may have stripper members 52 which are shorter than that shown in Fig. 5, and the stripper members on the lower mounting plate 24 in Fig. 1 may be of the same length as the one shown in cross section in Fig.

'5. When the shorter members 52 are used, the

spacing blocks 50 may be omitted, in which case, the stripper springs 49 will bear directly against the turned in portions or flanges 45 of the shells.

As clearly shown in Fig. 2, these stripper units are spaced at intervals about the cutting edges of the blanking punch and die, a series of these stripper members being mounted on the upper mounting plate 25 to engage the blank sheet which is being operated upon adjacent to the punch I6 for stripping the punch from the sheet, and another group of stripping members is arranged at intervals on the lower mounting plate 24 and act on the blanks 2| adjacent to the cutting edge of the die l1. As the mounting plate 25 moves with the punch holder I l of the die set, to operate on the work, the stripper plungers engage the work and are pressed into their shells against the action of the stripper springs 49, thus compressing these springs. When the mounting plate 25 rises, these springs exert pressure against the Work in a direction to strip the same from the punch and die.

The stripper members may be made so that the springs 49 are initially under compression,

if desired. Other means for stripping the work from the punches and dies may be provided, if desired.

The mounting plates may, if desired, be provided with means for perforating the work as well as blanking. In Fig. 1, I have shown a pair of punch units arranged in the mounting plate 25 and cooperating with a pair of die units on the mounting plate 24. The punch units may (be any suitable or desired construction, and as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, each punch unit is arranged in an accurately formed aperture 55' in the mounting plate 25 and includes a shell 56 similar in construction to the shells used in connection with the stripper units, the ,shells having their ends turned or flanged inwardly. A stripper member is employed in each shell, including an inner portion 51 slidable within the shell 56 and having a portion 58 of reduced diameter extending out of the shell in position to engage the work, and a stripper spring 59 is arranged within the shell, having one end there- -of bearing against the inwardly turned part or the punch 80 may be slid upwardly out 01' the punch unit for sharpening or for replacement by anotherpunch. As may be clearly seen in Fig. 3, when the punch holder ll of the die set moves toward the work, the stripper member 58 engages the work and is moved by contact with the work into the shell 56, thus compressing the spring 59 while the punch moves through the work. v

Each punch unit may cooperate with a die unit ofany suitable or desired kind. In the construction illustrated, each die unit includes a post or rod 65, the lower end of which has a press fit in an aperture formed in the lower mounting plate 24, and the upper portion of the die unit may be provided with an axially extending die aperture 66, Fig. 3, into which the slugs or punchings may pass. The die units may be provided with any suitable lateral passages (not shown), through which the punchings or slugs may be discharged from the die unitsl The punching apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is of the progressive type in which the sheet 20 is first provided with the required number oi holes 68, Fig. 2, by means of the punching and die units just described, and the sheet is then advanced to the blanking die. Suitable locating means are provided for correctly locating the sheet with reference to the blanking dies so that the periphery of the blanks 2i will be in fixed relation to the holes 58.. For this purpose, a locating device may be provided, as illustrated in Fig. 4, and which is very similar in construction to the stripper units, including 'an outer shell III, which may be secured in an accurately formed and located hole H in the mounting plate 24 and having a plunger 12 arranged at one end thereof, which is pressed outwardly by means of a' spring 13. The plunger 12 is provided with a centrally located aperture into which a pilot pin 15 is inserted and removably attached to a collar it. By placing the two pilot pins 15, as shown in Fig. 2, through the apertures 68 in the work, the plate will be correctly located with reference to the blanking contour so as to punch new apertures. In the next operation of the press, the mounting plate 25 in moving toward the mounting plate 24 forms a pair of locating holes 68 in one part of the plate or work sheet and shoe of the die set by any suitable spacing members, such for example as spacing bars or blocks 84 and 84a, and the lower mounting plate 83 mounting plate. This punch unit includes a shell in the blank 36, the aperture being preferably tapering for easy discharge of the metal punched from the blank and the lower mounting plate 83 is provided with an aperture or slug discharge hole 81.

The upper mounting plate 80 is provided with an aperture formed to receive a punch unit similar to that shown in Fig. 3, which aperture is in axial alinement with the aperture 87 in the lower 89 formed to have a press fit in the aperture formed therefor in the mounting plate 80. This punch unit includes a punch 90, a stripper member or plunger 9! extending beyond one end of the shell 89 and pressed outwardly by means of a stripper spring 92. A spacing block 93 is provided in the other end of the shell, the spacing block 93 and the stripper member 9! being provided with central apertures through which the punch 90 may extend. It will, of course, beobvious that any desired number of punch-units and die apertures may be provided to produce the desired number of holes in the blank.

during the same movement, the blanking punch and die also cut out the blank 2 i.

It will be noted that the units having the pilot pins I5 therein also act as strippermembers for the blank to strip the same from the die l'l, since the springs 13 are compressed during the downward movement of the punch. By means of these combined stripper and pilot pin units, it will also be noted that thepilot pins will pro-' ject upwardly above the level of the strippers and the blanking die, so that the pilot pins are in position to be readily accessible for locating the work, and when the die descends to blank out the work, the pilot pins and their stripper plunger 12 wil be moved downwardly by the punch tion shown for this purpose, the upper mounting plate 80 has a blanking die 8| mounted thereon and a punch 82 is mounted on the lower mounting plate 83. In this construction, themounting plates are spaced from the punch holder and die The constructions described greatly facilitate the production of the blanks, either plain or perforated, and materially reduce the cost of the same because of the ease with which the mounting plates on which the blanking punches and dies are mounted may be mounted or removed from a die set. The punching and stripper units may be readily removed from the mounting plates when a job is completed and may be used in other Preferably the shells of the 1. An apparatus for cutting blanks from sheets comprising accurately formed locating apertures in a pair of mounting plates and in a punch holder and die shoe of a die set to enable said plates to be accurately positioned on said die set, the apertures in the punch holder of said die set each being in axial alinement with an aperture in the die shoe, a blanking die element secured to one of said mounting plates, a blanking punch element secured to the other plate in such positions that the punch and die are in correct relation to each other when said 10- cating apertures of the mounting plates are in axial alinement and a plurality of individual stripper units on said mounting plates adjacent to the cutting edges of said punch and die elements, means for alining said locating apertures in said plates with their respective apertures in said die set and means for securing said plates to said die set.

2. .An apparatus for. cutting blanks from sheets comprising accurately formed locating apertures in a pair of mounting plates and in a punch holder and die shoe of a die set to enable said plates to be accurately positioned on said die set, the apertures in the punch holder of said die set each being in axial alinement with an aperture in the die shoe, one of the blank cutting members secured to one of said mounting plates, the other cutting member secured to the other mounting plate with said locating apertures in said mounting plates in axial alinement, a. plurality of stripper units on said mounting plates adjacent to the cutting edges of said punch and die elements, means for alining said locating apertures in said plates with'their respective apertures in said die set and means for securing said plates to said die set.

3. An apparatus for cutting blanks from sheets, which comprises a pair of mounting plates having means for accurately positioning said plates relatively to each other and to a die set, a blanking die formed of a plate of metal and secured to one of said mounting plates, a blanking punch formed of a plate of metal and secured to the other of saidmounting plates, said die and punch being mounted on said plates so that said die and punch are in correct position to each other when said mounting plates are accurately positioned relatively to each other by said positioning means, and a plurality of individual stripper units secured to both of said mounting plates adjacent to the cutting edges of said punch and said die, the stripper units mounted on one of said mounting plates engaging the work sheet to strip the punch from the same and the stripper members mounted on the other mounting plate engaging the blank to eject the same from the die.

4. An apparatus for cutting blanks from sheets, which comprises a pair of mounting plates for securing to the punch holder and die shoe of a die set, said mounting plates having locating holes therein, each locating hole of a mounting platebeing coaxial with a locating hole of the other mounting plate and said holes in said mounting plate being coaxial with said holes in said die set, a blanking die formed of a plate of metal and secured to one of said mounting plates, a blanking punch formed of a plate of metal and secured to the other of said mounting plates, said die and punch being mounted on said plates so that they are in corwork'cutting edges and a plurality of stripping the stripper units mounted on one of said mounting plates engaging thework sheet to strip 7 the punch from the same and the stripper members mounted on the other mounting plate engaging the blank to eject the same from the die.

5. An apparatus for cutting blanks from sheets, which includes a pair of mounting plates, a blanking punch mounted on one of the plates and a blanking die mounted on the other plate, each of said mounting plates being provided with a plurality of apertures adjacent to the cuttin edges of said punch and die, and a plurality of individual stripper units arranged in said apertures of both of said mounting plates and each including a plunger moving axially relatively to its aperture and positioned to engage the work, and resilient means urging said stripping member against the work.

6. An apparatus for cutting blanks from sheets, which includes a pair of mounting plates, a blanking punch mounted on one of the plates and a blanking die mounted on the other plate, said mounting plates being provided with a plurality of apertures adjacent to the cutting edges of said punch and, die, and stripper units arranged in said apertures and each including a shell having a press fit in an aperture, a stripper member slidably mounted in said shell and extending'out of the shell in position to engage the work, and resilient means. in said shell for urging said stripper member against the work.

'7; An apparatus for cutting blanks from sheets, which includes a pair of mounting plates, a blanking punch mounted on one of the plates and a blanking die mounted on the other plate, said first mounting plate having a plurality of apertures therein adjacent to and outwardly beyond the outer edge of said punch and said other mounting plate having a plurality of apertures therein adjacent to the cutting edge of said die, and stripper units in said apertures, said units including stripper plungers guided for movement axially of said apertures, and springs in said apertures and acting on said plungers in a direction to strip the work from said punch and die.

8. An apparatus for cutting blanks from sheets, which includes a pair of mounting plates, a blanking .punch'mounted on one of the plates and a blanking die mounted on the other plate, said first mounting plate having a plurality of apertures therein adjacent to and outwardly beyond the outer edge of said punch, and stripper units in said apertures, said units including stripper plungers guided for movement axially of said apertures, and springs also in said apertures acting on said plungers in a direction to strip the work from said punch.

9. Apparatus for cutting blanks from sheets,

including blanking punches and dies having including a blanking punch and a blanking die,

each having work cutting edges, and a plurality of stripper units arranged adjacent to said cutting edges, each stripper unit including a stripper plunger and a stripper spring,,a unitary shell secured in fixed relation to a cutting edge and arranged about a portion of said stripper plunger and about said spring and having its ends of reduced diameter to confine a part of said stripper plunger and said spring within said shell.

11. Apparatus for cutting blanks from sheets, including a blanking punch and a blanking die, each having work cutting edges; and a plurality of stripper units arranged adjacent to said cut- !(Larranged about a portion of said stripper plunger and about said spring and having its ends of reduced diameter to confine a part of said stripper plunger and said spring within said shell, said stripper plunger having a portion thereof guided for movement axially within said shell and another portion extending beyond said shell for engaging the work. i

12. Apparatus for cutting blanks from sheets, including a blanking punch and a blanking die, each having work cutting edges, and a plurality of stripper units arranged adjacent to said cutting edges, each stripper unit including a unitary shell having its opposite ends of reduced internal diameter and secured in fixed relation to a cutting edge, a stripper member slidably arranged in one end of said shell and having a portion of smaller cross sectional dimensions extending beyond the reduced portion of said end of said shell into position to engage the work, and a stripper spring in said shell bearing against the inner end of said stripper member and reacting against the opposite reduced end of said shell.

13. Apparatus for cutting blanks from sheets,

including a blanking punch and a blanking die, each having work cutting edges, and a plurality blanking-punch mounted on one of said plates and a blanking die mounted on the other plate,

said blanking punch having-piercing die aper tur'es formed therein in accordance with the apertures desired in the blank, larger apertures in the other mounting plate, each aperture being in axial alinement with a die aperture in said of stripper unitsarranged adjacent to said out ting edges, each stripper unit including a shell having its opposite ends of reduced internal diameter and secured in fixed relation to a cutting edge, a stripper member slidably arranged in one end of said shell and having a portion of smaller cross sectional dimensionsextending-beyond one end of said shell, a spacing member in the opposite end of said shell and held in said shell by the adjacent end portion of reduced diameter, a

stripper compression spring within said shell between said'stripper member and said spacing member and urging said stripper member toward its end of said shell.

14. A combination blanking and piercing apparatus, including a pair of mounting plates, at blanking die on one of said plates and a blanking punch on the other plate, said mounting plates having apertures located in predetermined spaced relation to said blanking punch and die, piercing punch units in said apertures and each including a punch and a stripper member, both of which are arranged in the same aperture of one of said mounting plates, and die units for cooperation with the punches of said. piercing pun'ch units and located in the apertures of the other mounting plate.

15. A combination blanking and piercing apparatus, including a pair of mounting plates, a blanking die on one of said plates and a blanking punch on the other plate, said mounting plates having apertures located in predetermined spaced relation to said blanking punch and die, piercing punch units each including a punch and a stripper member and arranged in the apertures of one of said mounting plates, dies vmounted in the apertures of the other mounting the blanking dies, and pilot pins yieldingly mounted on one of said mounting plates and adapted to enter in the holes formed by said piercing punches for locating the work with reference to the blanking punch and die. g

16. A pilot pin unit for use in connectionwith a blanking punch and die for locating work relatively thereto and including a shell, a plunger movable in said shell and having a pilot pin extending axially outwardly therefrom, and a spring in said shell for normally urging said plunger toward the work.

17. A combined blanking and piercing apparatus, including a pair of mounting plates, at

blanking punch when said blanking punch is in correct operative relation to the blanking die, and individual punching and stripping units mounted in said apertures in said other mounting plate and each including a punch adapted to cooperate with a die aperture for forming perforations in the blank while the blank is being cut.

18. A combined blanking and piercing apparatus, including a pair of mounting plates, a blanking punch mounted on one of said plates and a blanking die mounted on the other plate, said blanking punch having piercing die apertures formed therein in accordance with the apertures desired in the blank, larger apertures in the other mounting plate, each aperture being in axial alinement with a die aperture in said blanking punch when said blanking punch is in correct operative relation to the blanking die, punch units mounted in said apertures in said other mounting plate, a shell having a press fit in one of said larger apertures of said other mounting plate, a stripper member slidable in said shell and having a longitudinal central bore threthrough, a punch extending into said bore of said stripper member, and a spring yieldingly urging said stripper member into a position in which, a portion of said stripper member extends out of said shell into engagement with the work.

19. An apparatus for cutting blanks from sheets, which comprises a pair of mounting plates, a blanking punch mounted on one of said plates and a blanking die mounted on the other plate, said blanking punch having a plurality of die apertures therein located according to the pattern of holes desired in the blank, piercing punches mounted on the other of said mounting plates for cooperation with said die holes, and a plurality of stripper independent units mounted on each of said mounting plates and acting on the work independently of each other, and each including a plunger movable into engagement with the work adjacent to the cutting edges of said blanking punch and die, and yielding means for urging said stripper plunger into stripping engagement with the work.

20. An apparatus for cutting blanks from sheets and perforating said blanks, comprising locating apertures accurately formed in a pair of mounting plates for locatingsaid plates in cor rect relation to each other, a blanking die secured to one of said plates and a blanking punch to the other plate in operative relation to each other when said locating apertures are in alinemovable in said shell and havinga central aperture, a pilot pin in said aperture and extending outwardly beyond said plunger, a collar in said shell adjacent to the inner end of said plunger and to which said pilot pin is secured, and a spring in said shell bearing against said collar and urging said collar, pilot pin and plunger toward the work.

22. A pilot pin unit for use in connection with a blanking punch and die for locating work relatively thereto and including a shell, a plunger movable in said shell, a pilot movable in said plunger and extending therethrough, and out.- wardly therefrom, and resilient means in said shell to urge said plunger and pilot toward the work, said pilot pin being replaceable from without. I 23. An apparatus for progressively piercing and cutting blanks from flat material comprising accurately formed locating apertures in a pair of mounting plates and in the punch holder and die shoe of a dieset to enable said plates to be accurately positioned on said die set, a blanking die secured to one of said mounting plates and individual piercing dies, properly spaced one or of mounting plates and in the punch holder and die shoe of a die set to enable said plates to be accurately positioned on said die set, a blanking die secured to one of said mounting plates and means comprising piercing die openings, properly spaced one or more pitches in advance of said blanking die secured to the same plate, a companion blanking punch secured to the other of said plates together with piercing punch ele-' ments in proper position to cooperate with their respective piercing dies, said plates being secured to said punch holder. and die shoe to enable said piercing punches and dies to pierce holes in the 26. In a press having a stationary bed and a reciprocating ram, and a die set having a lower shoe rigidly mounted on said bed, an upper shoe rigidly mounted on said ram and means for causing the two shoes to operate in alinement, the progressive method of piercingholes and cutting blanks from flat material which consists of detachably mounting a pair of plates, one under said upper shoe, the other upon said lower shoe, said plates being provided with registering openings for the reception of alining means which cooperate with openings in their respective shoes so that a blank cutting punch member mounted on one plate together with a plurality of individually applied hole punching and stripping units retained in apertures in said plate will cooperate with a blank cutting die member mounted on the other plate together with hole punching die elements retained in apertures in said plate and then operating the press to pierce holes and cut blanks after which said plates are removed from said die set and another pair of plates provided with a different pattern of blanking and piercing punch and die elements are installed and operated.

, 27. A progressive piercing and blanking die ass emblage for use in a press having a stationary bed and reciprocating ram, comprising a die set having'a lower shoe adapted to be rigidly mounted to said bed, an upper shoe adapted to be rigidly mounted to said ram and means for causmaterial and said blanking punch and die to out said blank from said pierced material.

25. An apparatus for progressively piercing and cutting blanks from flat material comprising accurately formed locating apertures in a pair of mounting plates and in the punch holder and die shoe of a die 'set to enable said plates to be accurately positioned on said die set, a blanking die secured to one of said-mounting plates and means comprising. piercing die openings, properly spaced one or more pitches in advance of said blanking die secured to the same plate, a companion blanking punch secured to the other of said plates together with piercing punch elenients in proper position to cooperate with their respective piercing dies, and means for locating the pierced area properly on said blanking die including engaging one or more of said pierced holes with pins accurately locate within the confines of the contour of said blanking die, said plates being secured to said punch holder and die shoe to enable said piercing punches and dies to pierce holes in the material and said blanking punch and die to out said blank from said pierced material. 1

ing the two shoes to operate in alinement, a pair of plates detachably mounted, one under said upper shoe, the other upon said lower shoe, said upper plate carrying a blank cutting punch member mounted on its under side, a plurality of individually applied stripper units arranged around said punch to force the residual material therefrom after the blank has been cut, and a plurality of perforating punch and stripping units arranged in horizontally spaced relation 9. registering distance equal to one or more pitches from said blanking punch, said lower plate carrying a blank cutting die member'mounted on its upper side, a plurality of individually applied stripper units arranged within said die member opening to eject the blank from same and a plurality of perforating die elements for cooperation with said perforating punch and stripping units.

28. A progressive hole punching and blanking die assemblage for use in a press having a stationary bed and reciprocating ram, comprising a die set having a lower shoe adapted 'to be rigidly mounted to said bed, an upper shoe adapted to be rigidly mounted to said ram, and means for causing the two shoes to operate in alinement, 9. pair of plates detachably mounted, one under said upper shoe, the'other upon said lower shoe, said plates being provided with registering openings for the reception of alining bolts which cooperate with openings in their respective shoes so that a blank cutting punch member mounted on the under side of said upper plate and a plurality of individually applied hole punching and stripping units retained in apertures in said upper plate will cooperate with a blank cutting die member mounted on the upper side of said lower plate and hole punching die elements retained in apertures in said lower plate to punch holes and cut the blank and force it into the opening in said die member when said ram descends and individual stripper units in apertures in said upper plate t o force the residual material from around said punch when said ram ascends.

29. A progressive hole punching and blanking die assemblage for use in a press having astationary bed and reciprocating ram, comprising a die set having a lower shoe adapted to be rigidly mounted to said bed, an upper shoe adapted to be rigidly mounted to said ram, and means for causing the two shoes to operate in alinement, a pair of plates detachably mounted, one under said upper shoe, the other upon said lower shoe, said plates being provided with registering tive shoes so that a blank cutting punch member mounted on oneof said plates and a plurality of' individual hole punching and stripping units of plates detachably mounted, one under said upper. shoe, the other upon said lower shoe, said plates being provided with registering openings for the reception of aiming means which cooperate with openings in'their respective shoes so that a blank cutting die member mounted on the under side of said upper plate and a plurality of individually mounted punching and stripping units'seoured on said plate will cooperate with a blankcutting punch member having die 'apertures for cooperation with said punching units 5 mounted on the upper side of said lower plate openings for the reception of alining means which cooperate with openings in their resp'ecmounted in apertures in said plate will cooperate;-

'with a blank cutting die member mounted on the other plate and holepunching die elements,

said plates to be accurately positioned on said die set, a blanking die secured to one of said mounting plates, individual piercing punch and stripping units properly spaced according to the pattern desired secured in apertures in the same plate within the confines of said die contour, a cooperating blanking punch having die apertures integrally formed therein for cooperation with said piercing punches secured to the other of said plates, said plates being accurately positioned and secured to said punch holder and die shoe so as to provide ample space for removal of pierced out slugs.

31. In a press having a stationary bed and a reciprocating ram, and a die set having a lower shoe rigidly mounted on'said bed, an upper shoe rigidly mounted on said ram and means for causing the two shoes to operate in alinement, the

compound method of piercing, holes andcutting blanks from flat material which consists of detachably mounting a pair of plates, one under said upper shoe, the other upon said lower shoe, said plates being provided with registering openings for the reception of alining means which to punch holes in and cut the blank.

33. A compound piercing and blanking die apparatus foruse in a press having a stationary bed and reciprocating ram, comprising a die set having a lower shoe adapted to be rigidly mounted to said bed, an upper shoe adapted to be rigidly mounted to said ram, and means for causing the two shoes to operate in alinement, a pair of plates detachably mounted, one under said upper shoe, the other upon said lower shoe, said plates being provided with registering openings for the reception of alining means which cooperate with openings in their respective shoes so that a blank cutting die member mounted on one of said' plates and a plurality of individually mounted punching and stripping units secured on said plate will cooperate with a blank cutting punch member mounted on the other plate and mounting plates each being comparatively thin with relation to its length and width, providing the plates with registering openings for the reception of aligning means, securing the blanking punch member to'the face of one of the plates, said punch member having die apertures integrally formed according to the pattern desired, positioning around said punch member at desired intervals, individually applied stripping units, placing the die member upon the other plate and securing it thereto, positioning within said die member opening, hole punching units for cooperate with openings in their respective shoes I so that a blank cutting punch member mounted on one plate and having a plurality of die aperturesv will cooperate with a blank cutting die member mounted on the other plate together with a plurality of individually applied hole punching and stripping units retained'in apertures in said plate and then operating the press to pierce holes and cut blanlm after which said paratus for use in a press having a stationary bed and reciprocating ram, comprising a die set having; a lower shoe adapted to be rigidly mounted to said bed, an upper shoe adapted to be rigidly mounted to said ram, and means for cans ing the two shoes to operate in alinement, a pair cooperation with said die apertures in said blanking punch. and then securing the plates with the respective punch and die members car ried thereby to cooperating parts of the press.

35. The method of mounting blanking and piercing punch and die elements in a press which consists in providing a pair of cooperating mounting plates each being comparatively thin with relation to its length and width, providing axial relation with said piercing punch apertures,

piercing die elements for cooperation withsaid piercing punches and then securing the plates with the respective punch and die members carried thereby, to cooperating parts of the press.

36. An apparatus for cutting blanks from sheets, which includes a pair of mounting plates,v

a blanking punch mounted on one of the plates and a blanking die mounted on the other plate and each having work cutting edges, at least one of said mounting plates being provided with a plurality of apertures adjacent to one of said v8 2,se4,574-

' unit from said apertures."

GEORGE F. WALES. 

